Denon PMA-S1
The Denon PMA-S1 is a full-digital-control stereo integrated amplifier from the mid-1990s. Denon built it around getting the basic performance of the amplification circuit right rather than piling on features. HiFI-Stereo (1996, p.62) listed it among integrated amplifiers and noted its aluminum sand-cast frame and inverted Sigma balance circuit for balanced signal flow.
The amp is rated at 170W + 170W into 4 ohms (1kHz, 0.7% THD) and 100W + 100W into 8 ohms under the same conditions. The final stage uses MOSFET power transistors, and the whole signal path is DC-coupled from phono through output. The power supply is a large toroidal transformer with a large-capacity block capacitor. It feeds the amplification stage directly, with no voltage regulator. Level is set by a motor-driven volume control with separate left and right channels.
The front panel is aluminum die-cast. The chassis is described as high-rigidity and high-damping, with insulation. Frequency response runs 1Hz to 150kHz (+0, -3dB), signal-to-noise ratio is 105dB (IHF-A), and damping factor is 100 at 8 ohms. Input sensitivity is 130mV at rated output. Inputs are phono (MM), CD, tuner, aux, and two tape loops with monitor. The phono equalizer stage is discrete.
Dimensions are 434 × 166 × 420 mm, and it weighs 24.0 kg. That is a lot of amplifier to carry.
The record doesn't document production years, original price, or market context. The Audio (October 1996, p.88) amplifier listings include the PMA-S1 but give no detail beyond its place in the lineup.
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